Chair construction



7 sheets-sheet l fr j F. w. KoHLER CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed July 28, 1927 Jan. 31, 1933.

fifa/727s.'

Jan. 31, 1933. F w KOHLER 1,895,804

' CHAIR' CONSTRUCTION v Filed July 23', 1927 7 sheet-sheet 2 Jan. 31,1933. F. w. KoHLER 1,895,804'

' CHAIR CONSTRUCTION' Filed July 28, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 31, 1933. F, w KQHLER 1,895,804

CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed July 2,8, 1927 7 sheets-sheet 4 .I qn. 3l, 1933. F. w. KOHLER 1,895,804

y CHAIR coNsTRUCTIoN Filed July 28, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 F. W. KOHLER CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed July 28,

Jan. 31, 1933.

1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 fifa/vaga;

Jan. 3l, 1933. F.w. KoHLER CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed July 28, 1927 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 y //W/ d Patented Jan. 31, 1933 Y FRANKLIN w. KOHLER, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs` Y CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Application Vfiled July 28;-, 1927. Serial No. 209,053.

This invention relates tol improvements in chair constructions, and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description. The invention has a further bjeet to provide a chair construetionjwhich can be adjusted to change its width. The in- Figure 1 is a plan viewfshowing two chairs embodying the invention adjustedv to form aherth orbed; A Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construe# i tion illustrated in Fig. 1; i t3 l Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a front-elevation of one of kthe chairs shown in Fig. 1 with the back cushion m removed and the chair adjusted to-widen it; L 5 is a view similar to Fig. l with the chair in its normal unadjusted position;

Fig. 6 isan enlargedv sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; n i Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the seat cushion;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the chair in its unadjusted positionwith the cushions 'partly broken away;

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the chair removed ,P5 from its pedestal; i J -F`g. 10 is an enlarged view of the control handle for the locking pin;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 11`-11of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken ont-he line 12-12 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 8; i

Fig. la is a back view of the chair in its 5 adjusted position .with parts broken away;

F ig. 15 is a sectional vieuT taken on'the line1515 of Fig. 5;

I Fig. liis a View of the rear face of the back cushion;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on the line 17-17 of Fig.2 when the chair vis ingits unadjusted position; 4 ,f

FigLlS is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 18-.18 of'Figj; v .i kLilreniimerals refer to like partsfthrough-f 55. j out the several figures. The present chair is` of the general type illustratedin myk eo` pending application number 209,052 filed of evendate herewith.. l j l In the particular V eonstruction illustrated 60. herein the chair is rotatably'm'ounted yupon a Vpedestal l bymea'ns ofia base .2, the base and` pedestal being rotatably connected'v to-` gether by means of the shaft 3 which "extendsA into bothof them (seeFig. 6.)- so as toorIn 6.5.. a strong, durable rotatable connection; `The pedestall isprovided v'with a series of openings 4.- The base 2 has connected therewith a pin 5 which has onezend adapted to project into one ofgsaid holes'to lockv the base` and 7,0. l

pedestaltogether. The Vpinis providedwith a shoulder @whichl limits its downward movement and is presseddownwardlyby the spring V7` contained in the housing. vThe pin 5 Ais providedwith -the engaging part 7'5.

9 by means of which itis lifted through the agency of the inclined 'lifting face 10 connected with the rod 11 which-is mounted" in the bracket 12 and which has a handle `13.' The bracket 12 isconneetedwiththe ybase `8f) plate 14. Then the rod 11 is moved inwards lythe pin 5 is lifted to remove it from the opening 4 and the chair may then be rotated with-'relationto the pedestal to any desired,

position. j Upon releasing the. -rod 11 the' Y spring 7 moves the end lof the pin 5 into one" ofthe openingsfi 'to vlock the basegyand pedestal'together. Tf

The chair is provided with a bottom v15 and asliding bottom plate 16. The chair is provided at one side with anv arm consisting i of the' member 17 connected with the sliding bottomlplate 16 and thelcushion 1S.` Atthe 'other side is an arm consisting of the member 19 connected with the bottom ,15and .95v the cushion 20. The bach of the chairfconsists of three sections relatively` slidable, namely the back .sections 21, 22, and 23. The back section 21 is connectedwith the bottom 15 and with the arm memberV 19. The baekjla j TENT einiges;

section 22 is connected with the sliding bottom plate 16 and the arm member 17. The

back section 23 is slidably mounted between the other two back sections. shown, the back section 23 isslidably mounted on a guide 24 carried by the section 22 and is provided with a pin 25 which extendsVV vthrough a slot 26a in the section 22. A lever 26 is pivotally mounted, upon the pivotV 27 and is provided with apin 28 which. works in a slot 29 in the back section 23. 1 Associated with the lever on the other side of the vpivot'isa projection 30 which, vwhen the bottom and the sliding bottom plate are moved, causes' the lever to move the section 23 outwardlyto its exposed position as shown in Fig. 4. The bottom and sliding bO-ttom Y plate16, when the chair is'in itsunadjusted position, are locked Atogether by the locking i V Y' locks the parts, when they are in'their adjusted position. Vfor moving'this pin to its unlocking position.

- the chair.

pin-31 (see Figf). This locking pin also Some -means is provided Asl before stated, the bottom andfsliding bottom plate may be slid `relatively to widen Both thebottom and the sliding bottom plate may be slid rearwardly so that the base plate 14 will project to actas a rest for the vbac-ks ofthe chair when a bedor berth is formed l.as shown in Fig.A 1. If it is de-l sired to simply widen the chair,fthe locking pin '31 is moved so as yto be moved out of the vho1e32 in the sliding bottom plate but to ref' main in "the holek in the bottom 15. kThis two movements.

permits the sliding bottom plate'andb'ot- `tom to be moved relatively to widen the chairy but vprevents the bottom andthe sliding bottom l'plate-from being moved rearwardly. When it is -desired to move the'bottom and the sliding bottom plate rearwardly, the pin 31 must be given a great movement so as Vto `remove it'not only from the opening in the sliding bottom plate, but from the opening in the bottom 15'so as to release the bottom 15 from the base plate( 14. I have shown ay single mechanism for giving this'pin these The locking pin 31 is normally forced to its locking position by the spring 33 in the housing 34 and is provided with a stop 35Which limits its movement. This locking pin is providedwith engaging part 36 adapted to be engaged by an arm 37 connected with the rock shaft 38 (see Figs. 6, 9, and 10). The

shaftr 38 isvmounted in suitable bearings on thebase and is connected by anV arm"39 with a controlling rod 40. This rod is slidably and rotatably mounted in suitable bearings and is provided with the controlling handle 41-'by meansof which itis rocked. The rod v is provided with a projection 42 which :y l. l .65

engages a cam 43 having two cam faces, a short cam face 44 and a longer cam face 45.

When the controlling rod 40 is rocked so as to move the projection 42 along-the'short As herein cam face 44 the rod is moved longitudinally so as Yto ro'cl the shaft 38 and move the arm 37 to move the pin 31 so as to removeit from the opening 32'in the sliding bottom plate 16' but still'maintain it in the opening in the bot'-k y tom 15. Y The sliding bottom'plate 16 and 'the back 'sections 22 vand. 2,3 may theny be slid so as to widen the chair'as shown in Fig. V14. This movement` is stopped byY stop l165 on plate 16 engaging shoulder 160 on member erally and the ybottom and the slidingig'bottom platel rearwardly, the handle41 on the vrod 40 is moved in the opposite direction. This moves the projection 42 alongthe longer cam face 45 whichm'oves'the roda greater dis tance longitudinally thus moving the arm 37 a greater distance and a distance suiii'cient to remove thelocklng pin 31 from the bottom 15. The sliding bottomV plate may now be moved to one side `and both the bottom and the sliding. bottom plate moved rearwardly, the parts taking the position shown in Figs. patada, i

Whenthe handle then moves' the locking pin` into the opening is releasedthe spring' Y 47 in the bottom 15 (seegvFig. `6) and into the opening48 (see Fig. 8) .inthe sliding f bottom plate 16. The parts are `then locked in their adjusted position. The several parts arevmoved with relation tol eachother by grasping the upper parts ofthe chair as, for

example, the arms `and separatingthe arms and moving them rearward.

Each chair is provided `with a bottom cushion 48 which has at its rear bottom edge the projecting plate 49 which extends under the back cushion support 50 (see Figs. 6 and 7). This bottom cushion is also provided with aprojection 51 y(see Fig. 7) whichl is connected Y to a bar 52. This projection, when the chair is widened, is engaged by the engaging part 53 (see Fig.,1) on the sliding bottom plate so as to move the bottom cushion out from under the arm cushion 20 as shown in Fig. 4 f

the movement being stopped by 51 engaging shoulder 51a, (Fig.*1).fil7henthe sliding bottom plate is lslid in the other direction to closeup the chair an engaging part 54 engages the projection 51 and moves the botto-m cushion backfunder the arm 2O as shown 1n Fig. 5.

The chair is provided with back cushion 55 which has at its lower edge a grooved holding'piece 56, into the groove of which is received the support 50 (see Fig. 6). A guiding device 57 `is also provided which guides the back cushion into position. The backcushion is `provided at the top with a slot `58 which has the enlarged portion 59. The back section 21 is provided with a looped part 60 having attached thereto a pinV 61 provided witha head 62. This headv is inserted in the enlarged portion 59 of the slot 58and the cushfion thenlmoved until the pin 61 enters the smaller portion ofwthe slot.- This holds the top of the back cushion in place. The back section 23 is provided at the top with a guide 63 and at the'bottom 64, the two-guides being connected with theback section 22. The loop attached tothe back section 21 acts as a top Vguide for the back section 22. The lower end of this' back section vworks on a guide 65 connected 'withthe back section 21. The back cushion 55 isalso provided with a series of openings 66 (see Fig. 16).

The base plate 11,4 of each chair is provided withithe projections 67 (see Figs. 1 and 2).

When the chairs are in Atheir adjusted position "to `formv a berth the backs are placed between them and rest on the projecting edges of the baise plates and theprojections 67 enter the opening 66 so as to prevent accidental movement of the back cushions. Vhen the sliding bottom plate 16 is moved outwardly to widen the chair to form a bed or berth lit is supported uponthe support 68 attached to the wall 69 of the car or other device in connection with which the chairs vare used (see Fig. 4). The arm cushion'18 is removable from the arm member 17 and `is placedin between the bottom cushion 48 and the arm member 17 as shown in Fig. 4. The arm `cushion 18 is removably connected with the arm member 17 by means of a pin 70 (see Fig-11) which enters a slot V71 in the arm member 17 and which is provided with -a large end`72 .which prevents lateral movementof the arm cushion. The cushion is removed from the arm section 17 by lifting the cushion so as to remove the pin from the slot.

Vhen the chairs are to beused as ordinary chairs they are in their unadjusted position as shown in Fig. 5. When itis desired simply to widen the chairs the handle 41 is moved to move the projection 42 along the short cam` Vface 44. This moves'the pin 31 romthe .hole in the sliding bottom plate 16 and permitssaid plate and the back sectionsto be slidso as to widen the chair as shown in Fig. 14. The bottom cushion 48 is moved out 'from Vunder. the arm cushion 2O as shown in Fig. 4 and the arm cushion 18 may then be placed between `its end and the arm member 17v as shown in Fig. 4 thus providing a double seat,

that is, a chair in which two people may sit.

When it is desired to form a bed or berth the handle-4 is moved in the opposite direction to move the projection 42 along the long cam face 45. This removes the locking pin 31 from the holes in the sliding bottomplate 16 andthe back sectionsmaythenV be moved to widen the chair and they may also be moved rearwardly/so as ,to cause-the basev plate 14 of each chairto project outwardly.

The two chairs when in this projected'posi; tion `are facing each other with Vthe bottom cushion 48and the arm cushions 418 'in theJ position shown in-Fig. '4.1 Theback cushions are then removed and placed between ='the fchairs, restingon the projecting ends of thebase plate 14jasshQWnLin Figs. :Land 2., The

device isjthen ready to receive the ordinary' bed; clothing so that it may be used as a bed or berth; VVhenused as .berthsfin cars, the ordinary partitions 73V are placed between the berths above theybackslvof thechair as Y showninFigs. 2 and 4.l

It `will be seen' that by ,th'e means this constructionfthe chairs may beused'as single chairs andthey may be adjusted so as toform double chairs, that is, so as tosea-t two people 1n each chair and theymaylbearran'ged sofas to form a bed or berth. When these chairs *j are usedin sleeping cars', the cars maybe used as chaircars in the daytime and sleeping cars at night, thereby reducing the number of cars necessary on any given line. This for example, permits al car that required a day to run say between stations, `to berun in the daytime between.thesestations as ay chair carand tovbe run back at night between them as 'a-sleepingcar, thus permitting each car tobe run continuously and' making-one. car dothe work of. two cars, namely a ychair car and a `sleeping car. The base plate 14 is `provided with; guides 14a'l which tithetween the bottom 15 and the angle pieces 15a.

The bottom15 and associated parts slide back and forth on these guides 14a asV the cha-ir is changed from Va `chair to afbed and from a.V

bed to a chair. The sliding movement is limited by the stops 15?) on the angle pieces '15a and the stops 14?; on the base-.plate 14.

The back section V21 is provided witha projection 21a which engages the arm member 17 as shown in Fig. 15 when the parts are in "their closed'or chair position. The support 1. :A chairconstruction comprising a base,

a bottom, a sliding bottom plate slidably conneeted with said bottom, said bottom and sliding bottom platemova'bly mounted onsaid base so that they may. be moved with relation thereto, a single A locking device adapted to lock theA bottom and' the bottom sliding plate together and to lock said lbottom and bottom slidingY plate to'said base, ai handle for n controlling said locking device,jsaidhandle when moved in one direction-1 adapted to disconnect the sliding bottomkplate `from the bottom so that it may be moved'out to widen theVv chair and when moved'in another directiongadapted to disconnect the sliding bottom i plate andthe bottom from said base so that they may be moved with relationto the base.

2.y A chair construction 'comprising a-base,

abottom, a sliding bottom plate,`a locking pin )connected .with said Vbase-'and projecting j through said bottom VV'and said sliding botto'mplate, a handle and means controlled by 4the same handle formovings'aid locking pin Y to release thefsliding bottom sectionand for giving it a further movement .torelease the sliding bottom section, and bottom vfrom the n base so that they may, beV moved with relation tothe bottom. Y

3. A chair construction comprising ak base,

a bottom, a slidingbottom.l plate, a locking i pin Connected with saidbase and projecting A a bottom, a sliding bottom Vplate connected through said bottom and -saidsliding bottom"` plate, a handle and means controlled by the same handle for moving said locking pinto release the sliding bottom section and for giving it a further movement to releasethe sliding bottom section and bottomv from the i V.base so that they maybe moved with relation to the bottom, to an adjusted position, said sliding bottom section andbottom beingpro- 4vided lwith meansiwhich, in their adjusted position, permit said pin toengage and hold them-inA such adjusted position. 4. A chair construction comprisinga base,

with said bottom, an arm connected with 'said bottom and provided with acushion,acushion on said bottomplate, said vcushion being provided with a projection on its lower face, two

' separated engaging parts on` said sliding botff so .tom plate, one adapted toV engage said proj ection to move the endof the bottom-cushion out from -under the arm cushion when'the plate is movedoutwardly, the other-adaptedl to engage said projection to move the end of said bottom cushion under said arm cushion when said plate is'moved back to itsinitial position.' v v 1 '5. A chairconstruction comprising abase,

i a bottom slidably'connected with said base and `formed of two sections slidably connected togetherga single'` pin movably connected with said base, the two sections kot the bottom having registering openings intowhichthe vpinis adapted to be received, means for moving saidV pin to disconnect the twosections of the bottom from each other but maintain the connection between one section of thebottom and said base, and means for further moving said pin so las to release bothvsections of the bottom from saidbaSe. l

. 6. .A chair construction comprising a base,

A' a bottom. slidably connected with said base 'nectedtogethen Y Y ing an operative connection-with said pin and adaptedv when movedlongitudinally,A to

move said pin, a handle connectedwith said rod, means tormoving'said .rodlongitudinally V'a 4predetermined distancewhenlthe han-l dle is moved in one direction, and means for moving said rod longitudinallya greater dis-i tance when the Ahandle is movedy the other direction. y f n 7;v A chair construction Ycomprisin'ga base,

a bottom slidably connected with said, baseV andformed of two sectionsslidably,connectpin is adapted to be received, `.a rod operatively connected 'withsaid ypin adapted -to move said Vpin when the rod is moved longived together, a` single,pinfmovablyfconnected i withI saidbase, the two sections ofthebottom having registering openings into vwhich-the tudinally, an 'engaging part on said rod, acam i having two cani faces, one-of greater length i* Vthan the other, the engaging part beinglocated betweensaid cam faces, the cam faces adapted to move therod longitudinally when the shaft is rocked in either direction,v one of Vthe cam faces causing the rod lto move a greater distance longitudinally thanthe other cam face. f

Y 8. `A- chair construction' comprising' a'base,

a bottom slidably connected with said Vbase and ormedof two vsections slidably-connected together, a single pin movably connected'with said base, the two sections of the lbottom having registering openings into-which'the pin adapted to be received, an arm`A connected said pin, a rock shaft Ywith which said arm` is connected,- a'l rod' adapted, when moved longitudinally, to rock said rock shaft, an enl vgaging part on said rod, a cam having two v faces ofv dierent lengths, one of said camV Jfaces adapted to bel engaged by said engagllO ing part when the rod is rocked in one direcy tion, the other cam face adapted to be engaged by said engaging part whenjthe shaft is rocked in the other direction. 9. A chair4 construction comprising Va base, a bottom, va sliding bottomplate adapted `to-beslidlaterally to'widen the chair,-a bottom cushion, means connected with said 'boti tom plate for moving the cushion when the sliding bottom plateis moved ineither direc- Y tion, and 'stops forllimiting the" movement of said sliding bottom plate and cushion.

l0. A chair Y construction comprising a base, a base plate iixedthereto, a bottomformed of sections slidably connected together, one Aof said ysections Vadapted to be moved toward andawayfrom-the front of the device, a back :formed of sectionsroverlapping from front tolrear and slidably con- 1'1. A chair construction comprising a base, a bottom, a sliding bottom plate slidably connected with' said bottom, and movable with relation thereto independent ofsaid base, the bottom and sliding bottom platebeing movably mounted on said base so that they may be moved With relation thereto, and a single locking device for locking the bottom and sliding bottom plate in their initial'and in their moved positions and means vat a distance from said locking device for controllin its position.

gigned at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 8th day of July 1927.

FRANKLIN W. KoHL-ER. 

